Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) is a vital sign that should be recorded in children and adolescents. Studies have shown that hypertension in children can lead to adult
cardiovascular diseases, which are the leading cause of
death in many countries, including Colombia. The aim of
this paper was to show the blood pressure data in a school
population, 7 to 18 years of age in the city of Cali.Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study to
assess risk factors for chronic diseases in a school
population
of Cali, Colombia, which included anthropometry,
blood chemistry, physical work capacity, oral
health, diet, and BP. Two pediatricians registered BP by
auscultatory method in both arms according to standard
method. BP data, their relationship with age, gender,
height, body mass index, socioeconomic status, and salt
intake were reported for this student population.Results: A total of 2807 students from different
educational
institutions in the urban area of Cali were
evaluated. Some 92.2% of the school population had
normal BP with values below the 90th percentile, 3.8%
had blood pressure between 90 to 95th percentiles or prehypertension,
and 3.2% were hypertensive with blood
pressure above the 95th percentile for age, gender, and
height percentiles according to standards. Systolic and
diastolic blood pressure increases with age, height, and in
males the values are slightly higher. No significant
differences were found in systolic and diastolic BP
regarding socioeconomic status. There was no difference
between right and left arm BP. Higher sodium intake in
diet and body mass index increase systolic BP levels.Conclusion: The data found agree with those
reported in the literature. Socioeconomic level does not
influence blood pressure values in the population studied.